Noli Me Tangere, from The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through the Life and Passion of Christ 1508 - 1518

Albrecht Altdorfer created this woodcut, titled *Noli Me Tangere*, as part of his series *The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through the Life and Passion of Christ.* The image depicts a critical moment from the Gospels: Mary Magdalene encountering the resurrected Christ. In the foreground, Mary Magdalene kneels, reaching out to Christ with what appears to be a jar of ointment. Christ, radiating light, gestures to her with his hand, holding a banner in the other. His words "Noli me tangere" or "touch me not" echo through the centuries. Altdorfer, working during the Reformation, uses the print medium to disseminate religious narratives, reflecting the era's shifting relationship between the individual and the divine. The intensity of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the resurrected Christ speaks to the emotional core of faith, offering a moment of intimate connection. Altdorfer invites us to consider the complex interplay between the body, faith, and the divine.